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why do teeth get sensitive after whitening

If you have stains on your teeth or discoloration, one of the best options to consider is teeth whitening. Professional teeth whitening with a dentist is much more effective than the products that you can get at the local store. In just one professional teeth whitening treatment, your smile can be brightened by several whole shades. This means that the yellowing caused by cigarettes, coffee, tea, red wine, and cola will be greatly minimized. Many people visit Dr. Cortese and Dr. Selway to get advanced whitening and to enhance the overall beauty of their smile. After undergoing teeth whitening treatment, patients sometimes complain of tooth sensitivity and pain. This goes for both professional whitening as well as over-the-counter teeth whitening. Let s look at what causes tooth sensitivity to occur and what can be done to reduce or eliminate it. It may be helpful to just briefly cover the basics of the professional teeth whitening procedure first.

During, your teeth will first be thoroughly cleaned. Once this is done, a dental bleaching agent will be applied to your teeth. This bleaching agent will then be exposed to a special light that will activate the special properties of the bleaching agent. The overall procedure shouldn t take longer than an hour. Of course, you experience at-home whitening kits will vary. What causes tooth sensitivity after teeth whitening? One cause of tooth sensitivity may be the bleaching agent getting on the gums and other soft tissues near a tooth. Another cause of tooth sensitivity after teeth whitening are the dentinal tubules. Dentinal tubules are little holes in the dentin layer of the tooth that are linked to the dental pulp within the tooth. This explain how teeth are sensitive to heat and cold. The whitening agents can cause the tubules to become completely exposed (this is a temporary condition, by the way), making teeth hypersensitive.

There are plenty of things that the team at our will do to ensure your experience is as positive as possible. For one, Dr. Cortese and Dr. Selway will take great care to ensure that the bleaching agent will only affect the stained area of the tooth. In addition, we can apply a tooth desensitizer to the teeth after a whitening treatment to reduce any possible tooth sensitivity. After getting a teeth whitening treatment, be sure to avoid foods that are hot or cold for a day or two. Doing so will ensure that you are not susceptible to any undue tooth sensitivity. It s also recommended that you brush your teeth gently and that you rinse with lukewarm water. If you are using an at-home kit, be extra careful and attentive about where the bleaching agent winds up. Also, do not overdo an at-home treatment. This can make you teeth sensitive. If you follow the instructions and still notice sensitivity, reduce the amount of whitening agent or the treatment time.

To learn more about teeth whitening and your many other options for a great smile, today. Choose an at-home whitening treatment kit. Most at-home teeth whitening kits use carbamide peroxide as the main bleaching ingredient. Peroxide is effective, but it can irritate the nerve endings of your teeth and cause sensitivity. Choose an in-home kit that contains a low peroxide level of 5 вВ 6%. A higher peroxide dose will not guarantee effectiveness and might cause a great deal of pain. There are a wide variety of at-home whitening options: strips, paint-ons, mouth trays with gel, whitening toothpaste, and even whitening gum and mouthwash. If you have any concerns about the safety of these products, ask your dentist. If you do choose a tray-based whitening method, make sure that the tray fits securely over your teeth. If it is loose the gel can leak out and create widespread gum irritation and increased sensitivity.